Picardo hoping for Trek movie cameo

The 58-year-old actor - who played The Doctor for six years in TV series Star Trek Voyager - has met director JJ Abrams and is optimistic he could be cast in Star Trek 3.

Robert said: "Well, it's always possible that they'll use one of us. I've met JJ, he was very kind and complimentary to me, and I know he watched the show because he's a fan of Star Trek. Nothing is impossible."

The Total Recall star is pleased that Star Trek: Voyager is now being repeated on the CBS Action channel, as the film has helped create a whole new generation of Trekkies who want to see the show.

He said: "What's wonderful about Star Trek having been rebooted so successfully by the JJ Abrams movie franchise, is that the corollary effect is that it creates a new generation of fans, and they're interested in all of it.

"They don't just sit around and wait for the next movie to come out, they'll go back and re-examine episodes.

"I remember when the first movie came out, my daughter's friends who were all about 17, they'd never paid any attention to the show when it was on the air, they started to go back and watch Voyager and enjoy it, simply because they liked the movie. It helps the brand name and I think it's a good time for a new generation of fans."

::Robert Picardo stars in Star Trek: Voyager which begins on July 2 at 8pm on CBS Action.